Branislav Ivanovic: Timing of Chelsea's clash with Manchester United couldn't be worse

Branislav Ivanovic: Timing of Chelsea's clash with Manchester United couldn't be worse

Branislav Ivanovic: Timing of Chelsea's clash with Manchester United couldn't be worse

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Out of reach: Petr Cech fails
to stop Raul Rusescu’s penalty

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Branislav Ivanovic heads clear

epa

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Fernando Torres goes for goal

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Branislav Ivanovic admits Chelsea are facing Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday at the worst possible time.

Chelsea’s defeat at Steaua Bucharest last night was their fifth loss since the turn of the year and has put their hopes of reaching the last eight of the Europa League at risk.

Confidence is again at an all-time low and, having arrived back to London in the early hours of this morning, they have little time to prepare for their quarter-final against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

Some might assume that Ivanovic would be happier playing against United now, following their opponents’ demoralising exit at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League this week.

The runaway Premier League leaders blamed referee Cuneyt Cakir for losing the tie because they conceded two goals after his controversial decision to show Nani a red card when they led 1-0 on the night.

Ivanovic told Standard Sport: “It is going to be one of our biggest challenges of the season, especially playing them at this moment.

“When you go out of the biggest competition in that way, it must be disappointing but they will be more motivated because of that.

“This is a game for us to show character and a game to react after this one [Steaua]. We are disappointed about our result and we have to be mentally ready because we’ve had two days less to prepare. It is going to be very difficult like always, a physical game and we have to recover well.”

Chelsea’s season began to implode when they lost 3-2 against United at home in the League last October. They had two men sent off in controversial circumstances by Mark Clattenburg and it was their first defeat in the top flight this term.

Chelsea were still one point ahead of their rivals at the top following the game but have since struggled and now trail them by 19.

Ivanovic admits the gulf between the two sides in the table is a fair reflection of the campaign and added: “We have to be realistic with our situation and be honest. The gap means we didn’t do well in the season.

“They may have the best defensive line in the League. It doesn’t matter who plays, they play well. Any of their players is very hard to mark. We have to be ready for all options. One thing is more important than any other, to play every game as a final, as a team, to try to win every game. The supporters didn’t expect us to be in this situation this year.”

Chelsea did not look like they were playing against Steaua as if it was a final. They mustered just three shots on target in the entire 90 minutes.

They left Bucharest feeling aggrieved, however, over the penalty awarded to the home side for Ryan Bertrand’s challenge on Raul Rusescu in the 24th minute, which the striker duly converted.

It means the Blues will be under pressure not to concede in the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Thursday, otherwise they will have to score at least three times to go through.

Keeper Petr Cech is not concerned with the situation because of the club’s past performances in Europe, which include overturning a 3-1 reverse against Napoli in the Champions League 12 months ago.

He said: “We have turned around a much bigger deficit than 1-0, so it’s nothing dramatic. We just need to make sure we score goals and don’t concede.

“We now face United in the FA Cup [on Sunday] and that’s the best way to forget about this defeat. The games are coming thick and fast and we won’t have much time to prepare. But we will get a bit of rest.

“They [United] play at home and have had more time to prepare. They are the favourites but the favourites don’t always win in the FA Cup.”